by A. R. Kayne
“Alright. I understand,” he said glumly.
“You said you love her. Is that true?”
“Yes. I do. More than anyone or anything.” As he said the words, he realized that he really meant them. He’d give his life for her.
“Then you’ll want the best for her. You’ll act like a decent man and the leader of this ship and do what’s right. In the end, the choice of whether to couple with you, someone else, or no one at all is hers, not yours. Do you understand?”
“Yes. I do. I’ll talk to Dane.”
Dr. Ales stood and prepared to leave, with Kellis following in her wake. She paused beside Pryce’s chair and patted him on the head as though he was a small child, rather than the esteemed commander of a starship.
“You’re a good boy, Pryce, despite some of your misadventures. I’m proud to see you growing up.”
Somehow that wasn’t comforting.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Jess
Jess craned her head and tried to see the back of her dress. The computer had described its bodice as a halter. It fastened behind her neck, nipped in at her waist, and left her back and the area between her breasts bare. From the waist, the dress flared out in a full skirt that swished when she walked or turned. The fabric felt incredibly sensuous against her skin.
She loved it the way it felt and sounded but she had no idea whether she looked nice. What did that word even mean? How was she supposed to evaluate clothing or makeup or hairstyles after wearing salvaged garments for years on end? Plus, the customs on Draco had been much different than they were on the ship, even before the Ghul invaded.
When she’d first moved to the vessel, other women had helped her dress. That had quickly become humiliating. Some made comments that sounded kind but their facial expressions made it clear they meant the opposite. Fortunately, there was a dependable source of help available in the form of the computer. It had created the halter dress and sent a mech to deal with her hair and makeup.
“Computer, do you think I look nice?”
“Nice is a subjective rather than an objective term. It’s open to interpretation. I believe your date will find your appearance satisfactory. The proportions of your body fall well within the ratios that subconsciously signal fertility, which men tend to find attractive. The wavelength of the color of your dress matches that of the average color of your eyes to within twenty angstroms. Your makeup has been applied to draw attention to your eyes and to simulate the flush of an orgasm. Studies have shown that most heterosexual males find these things appealing.”
Jess’s brow wrinkled. “Orgasm. Is that similar to the word organism?” Perhaps the computer was referring to an animal that turned pink or red.
“No. It is not. Do you wish me to define the term for you?”
“Maybe later. Does the dress show too much of my chest? I thought I was supposed to keep all of it covered.”
“Again, that question is open to interpretation. It has been my observation that the majority of the heterosexual males on this ship enjoy seeing female breasts. I designed your dress to optimize the amount of tissue revealed while retaining structural integrity and coverage of key areas.”
“Thank you, computer. I appreciate your making the dress and helping me with my hair and makeup. I would have been unable to do those things by myself.”
“You are most welcome.”
“Jess, are you talking to me?” called Pryce from their living area.
She slid open her bedroom door. “No. The computer and I were just chatting.”
He shook his head. “Were you talking to it like it’s human and telling it please and thank you again? Honey, it’s a machine. I know it sounds like a person, but it isn’t self-aware. It does what it’s told and it has no feelings.”
“You’re wrong,” she muttered, even though she knew she knew it was an argument she couldn’t win. They’d had that discussion many times, yet he refused to see what was in front of his eyes.
“What’s that?” He turned toward her with a grin. His jaw dropped. “Shit,” he muttered.
Jess looked down at herself. “Is something wrong?”
“Um. No. There’s nothing wrong.” He looked dazed. “I’ve just never seen you in a dress before. You’re beautiful. Maybe we should go out or something. It’s a waste for you to look like that and be stuck in here doing homework.”
She bit her lower lip. “Pryce, I’m sorry. I forgot to tell you that I can’t meet with you tonight. Can we meet tomorrow instead?”
His face froze. “You have something else to do?”
“Yes. I have a date!” She giggled and twirled, which made her skirt fly up and spin deliciously. “What do you think, will he like my dress?”
“Yeah.” Pryce’s tones were flat. “He’s definitely going to like that dress.” He slumped back on the couch and rubbed his forehead. “Who’s the lucky guy?”
“His name is Abron. I think he’s some kind of physicist. He explained it to me but I haven’t had enough school yet to understand. He’s taking me to a place where they cook food rather than just getting it from a synthesizer.” She shrugged. “That seems like a waste of effort, but I guess it’ll be fun to try.”
“Alright.” Pryce smiled at her, but the expression seemed forced. Was something wrong? Jess shrugged inwardly. Who knew? Maybe he was coping with a work issue. He’d been moody for days.
She flounced to the door, doing her best not to stumble. The computer had designed shoes for her that had only a small amount of heel, but she still wasn’t adept at walking in them.
“Jess,” Pryce called, just as she reached the door.
“Yes?”
“I know dating is something you need to do and it’s none of my business, but I’ll be worried about you while you’re gone. Can you bang on my door when you get back so I know you’re safe? And if anything goes wrong, anything at all, have the computer call me.”
“Of course.” She laughed. “You do know that I’m a grown woman, don’t you? I took care of myself for years before I came on board.”
He smiled at her, but it still looked forced. “Yeah. I know that. I still worry, though.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Jess
When Jess met Abron outside the restaurant, his eyes bugged. “Damn, Jess. I’ve never seen you in anything other than hooded coveralls. You look great.”
She beamed at him. “Do I? Thank you. I don’t know anything about clothing. I had to ask the computer for help.”
“You’re gorgeous. Being seen with you is going to do wonders for my reputation. My team always jokes that my idea of a hot date is a fresh batch of data and a sleep suppressant.”
“You can tell them that they’re wrong. Your dates also include cave dwellers who’ve recently learned to use a cleansing chamber. That may not help your reputation, though.”
“I’ll take that risk.” He grinned, placed his hand at the small of her back, and urged her into the room.
She stopped in her tracks when she saw the ceiling, which was lined with multi-hued discs in the purest colors imaginable. They danced, glowed, and pulsated overhead, casting light down on the patrons. It was like being inside a rainbow.
“Are those alive?” she breathed.
“Yes. They’re iridothids. Very simple water organisms.”
There were whispers and a few sidelong glances from other couples as he guided her to their table.
“People are looking at us,” Jess murmured, “Is that normal?”
He shrugged. “Probably. I think they’re just curious. They’ve heard about you but almost nobody has seen you in person.”
She shielded her chest with one arm. “Do you think it’s because of my dress? The computer swore it didn’t show too much of my chest, but maybe it does.”
Abron barked out a laugh. “Yeah, no. It’s impossible to show too much, at least as far as I’m concerned. Besides, there are plenty of people here wearing less clothing.”
He was right. Jess smiled and waved at a couple she caught staring at her; they at least had the decency to look embarrassed.
“What would you like to try?” asked Abron after they were seated. “I’ve heard their fruit is good, but I’m sure everything else is too. They pick up foods from the planets we visit and keep them in stasis until the moment they’re ordered.”
She puzzled over the menu, sounding out the names. “Afquatin? Dranfruit?”
“I’ve never heard of them either. The food here can be a little bit of an adventure. Shall we try some?”
Afquatin proved to be a purple sphere covered with undulating tendrils. The waiter presented it to them under a glass dome.
“I recommend that you keep the dome on until you’re ready to eat,” said the waiter. “They move surprisingly quickly. When they’re as fresh as this one, they have a bad habit of getting loose in the restaurant.”
As they watched, the fruit’s tendrils crept along the edge of the dome and tried to nudge it up.
Jess eyed it. “You’re sure that’s a fruit and not an animal.”
He smiled reassuringly. “Yes. Its movements are simply a means to assure reproduction. It seeks out the right moisture and light conditions, then it digs into the ground. Or, in the case of this restaurant, tries to crawl inside someone’s shoe.”
“There’s no brain or anything to hurt?”
“No. Just be prepared for it to move when you lift the dome.”
She grabbed a knife. “Right. Abron, on the count of three?”
He lifted the dome. Jess stabbed and hacked. Pulp and purple juices spurted in the air.
“You’re really good at that!” said Abron admiringly, as he blocked a piece from diving off the table.
“I’m out of practice. It’s been awhile since I’ve had my meal try to get away from me. At least this time I’m not having to kill an animal.” She herded several pieces back under the dome.
“I’m a city boy, so I’ve ever had that pleasure,” he replied, jabbing a piece that was still trying to get away. “I guess before you came to the ship you had you had to hunt for everything you ate?”
“Yes.” She shoved a chunk of the fruit in her mouth. “Hmmm. Chewy, sweet, and a little tart. It’s pretty good once you get past the tendrils grabbing at your tongue. It’s certainly not the worst thing I’ve ever eaten.”
“Dare I ask what the worst thing was?” There was a hint of mischief in Abron’s eyes.
She bit her lip. “You probably don’t want to know. Let’s just say that starvation can expand a person’s ideas of what’s edible.” She noticed the couple at the next table staring, so she speared a piece of Afquatin and offered it to them. “Would you like to try some?” she asked politely.
When they recoiled, she shrugged and ate it herself, directly off the point of her knife. Abron ducked his head and shook with laughter.
For the duration of the meal, they regaled each other with tales of their lives growing up. Afterward, Abron leaned back in his chair and regarded her with hooded eyes.
“I’ve really enjoyed this. It would be a shame for you to have put on makeup and that dress just for dinner. Do you need to go back yet? Would you like to go dancing?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never done it. Is it nice?”
“I enjoy it. There’s music, which is usually pretty good. You listen to music and move your body. Sometimes you move your body according to the way the music makes you feel and sometimes you move in a specific pattern.”
“I’d like to try it.” Wasn’t this exactly what Pryce had once recommended, trying different experiences and seeing what she liked? “We had dancing on Draco, but it was only for ceremonies.”
The club was tucked away on one of the outer levels. Although she couldn’t hear the music, Jess felt the deck throbbing when they were just outside the club’s doors. She stared down at her feet.
“Is that tremor coming from inside?”
“Yes. It’s because of the music. Brace yourself - it can be loud in there.”
It was, but somehow the noise and lights and mists were exciting. Abron showed her the basics then she improvised. They laughed and gyrated for ages, with Abron giving exaggerated howls of pain each time Jess stomped on his toes.
Afterward, when he walked her back to her quarters, she studied him covertly: tall, scrawny, with a shock of dusty blond hair that kept invading his eyes. He had insatiable curiosity about everything and seemed innately kind. Something told her that she could trust him.
She put a hand on his arm and peered up at him. “I want to ask you something. Have you ever kissed anyone?”
He snorted. “Yes. Of course I have. I’m an adult. I’ve done all of that stuff.”
“I’m an adult too, but I haven’t done any of it. I’d like to try it.”
He choked. “Are you asking me to have sex with you? I thought I should at least take you out a few times before I started grabbing you.”
She shook her head vigorously. “Not sex. I don’t know if I’ll ever want to do that. I’d like to try kissing, though. I’ve seen people do it on videos. They seem to like it.”
His eyes were kind. “I understand. You saw something, you’re curious, and you want to do an experiment. Okay. We can do that.”
He looked around for a suitable spot and guided her to a darker, more private nook in the corridor. He smiled down at her and brushed a lock of hair away from her cheek. “So I get to be your first date and your first kiss. That’s pretty special.”
She smiled back at him. “Yes. I must warn you, I have no idea what to do.”
“Nobody does at first. It’ll be alright.”
He tipped her face up and gently pressed his lips against hers. Their chins bumped awkwardly. After a moment, she felt his tongue moving along the seam of her lips.
She pulled away. “Is that how it’s supposed to go? I’m not so sure your tongue belongs on my mouth.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, that’s pretty much how it goes. People put their mouths together and move their lips and their tongues. If you’re with the right person, it can be wonderful. Do you want to try again?”
“Yes. Maybe it’ll go better now that I know what to expect.”
The second time, he was the one who pulled away. He smiled ruefully. “You aren’t feeling anything, are you?”
“No. Not a thing. How about you?”
“Wrong question. I’m a healthy adult male and you’re a captivating, beautiful woman who I like very much. I suspect the real issue is that I’m not the right person for you.”
“You aren’t awful or anything,” Jess protested. “You’re nice and you’re very handsome. I’m just new to all of this.”
“It’s alright. I’m not offended.” He pulled her back into the corridor. “Here’s something I’ve learned: just because two people like each other, it doesn’t mean that they’re meant to pair up. Even if they are, sometimes they need time to get to know each other. You’ll find someone who’s right for you. There’s no hurry.”
“How do you know when it’s right? How do you know when you’re attracted to someone?”
“It feels right. It isn’t a ‘meh’ feeling like you just had with me. You really want to touch the other person. When you do, it feels good and you want to touch them even more. Sometimes touching them and being with them are all you can think about.”
“Oh. Thank you for explaining it. Thank you for trying kissing with me, too.”
“It was my pleasure.” He chuckled and squeezed her hand. “Evidently it was entirely my pleasure. That’s another aspect of dating. Sometimes the attraction is one-sided, and that’s okay. Remember not to force it.”
As they neared Jess’s quarters, the door slid open.
“Jess, is that you?” Pryce bellowed.
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, Pryce. It’s me. I’ll be there soon. Computer, could you close the door, please?”
Abron’s brow furrowed. “Pryce? Oh. Captain Adamson.
I forgot that the two of you are on first name basis. What’s it like living with him?”
“Most of the time it’s alright. He was in an odd mood when I left.”
“Was he.” Abron shoved his hands in his pockets and smiled slyly.
“Anyhow, I don’t really live with him. We have a shared room that has a sofa and a table, but I have my own separate bedroom.”
“Still, you essentially share quarters. It’s an interesting setup. There’s been some speculation.”
“About what?”
“Many assume the two of you are romantically involved. You share quarters, and for awhile he had an order that no one on the ship was allowed to get near you. That seemed a pretty possessive. I was surprised when you agreed to go on a date with me.”
Jess laughed so hard it turned into a coughing fit. “Pryce? And me? No. He has absolutely no interest in me. Zero. The only reason we live so close is so he can help me adjust. I think he’s doing it as a favor to someone.”
“I see. What kind of adjusting does he help you with?” Abron’s eyes twinkled.
“Schoolwork. Social customs. We meet a few times a week to review my homework, and he used to make me watch awful old movies. It’s funny that you mentioned romance, though. I don’t think he’s interested in that sort of thing. All he ever does is work and help me with homework. I’d be surprised if he’s ever dated anyone.”
It was Abron’s turn to double over laughing.
“What’s so funny?”
“Ah, Jess. If you don’t know, it’s clearly not for me to say. Just keep in mind that things aren’t always the way they seem on the surface. Sometimes things look very different when we start peeling away the layers.” He squeezed her hand. “I had a wonderful evening. I’d like to do it again sometime. And remember, if you ever need a friend, you can count on me.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek.